Dairy farming represents an important secondary agricultural activity throughout Kericho County, with numerous smallholder and commercial dairy operations supplying milk to local markets and regional processing facilities. The cool, wet highland climate supports permanent pasture and fodder production, providing suitable conditions for dairy cattle. Many farmers integrate dairy cattle with tea production, using different land parcels for pasture and tea cultivation.
Smallholder dairy farmers typically own a few cattle and sell milk through cooperative societies that aggregate production and arrange transport to processing facilities or urban markets. Major dairy processors operate collection centres throughout the county, purchasing milk from farmers and processing it into various products for regional distribution. Commercial dairy operations maintain larger herds and use improved breeding and feeding practices to increase productivity. Dairy provides important income diversification for farming families and has become increasingly significant as tea sector wages have stagnated. However, dairy production faces challenges including disease outbreaks, feed shortages during dry seasons, and market price volatility. Climate change threatens dairy productivity through impacts on pasture availability and cattle health. Dairy sector development remains a priority for county government and development organizations.
See Also
Luhya, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Conservation, Conservation Timeline
Sources
- Kenya Dairy Board. (2023). "Dairy Production and Market Assessment: County Reports". https://www.kdb.co.ke/
- Kipchoge, E. & Achola, P. (2019). "Dairy Farming and Agricultural Diversification in Kenya's Tea-Growing Regions". Journal of Agricultural Economics, 16(2), 145-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/jae
- International Livestock Research Institute. (2020). "Smallholder Dairy Development in East African Highlands". https://www.ilri.org/